"So you're sure everything's under control?"
Melony nodded, smirking at the amusement in Jack O'Neill's expression.
"Yeah, Jack. We've got it this time. Carson says that if any of our other rescue team members were going to come down with symptoms of the bacterium they would have done it by now. We're looking free and clear."
"And what happens when you bring your offworld teams back?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing. We've cleared all traces of the bacterium from the city – and Carson and one of our environmentalists got together and decided there was no way the bacterium could make it to the mainland, so we won't have to worry about any kind of recurrence in the near future. We'll start bringing people back as soon as tomorrow if things go right."
"And you've blocked the original planet from the dialing computer?"
"Of course."
He nodded, looking thoughtful.
"Good. How long until Weir's back on her feet?"
Mitchell smiled.
"At least a few days."
Jack hadn't missed the smile.
"Still not very happy with you guys?"
"Not too much, no. She's better than before, though. All of them are."
"Good. And your injured?"
"Sheppard's awake and talking. As soon as it's safe, I think Carson's going to send Sanchez back to you guys."
"I thought he was doing okay?"
"He is. But he'll do better there, Carson thinks. Besides, I want him over there…"
"Why?"
"Because as soon as he's fit for full duty again, I want him to go into officer's training, and I want you to convince him to do it."
Jack didn't look at all surprised by the fact that Melony wanted Sanchez to become an officer – although he did frown at the last part of that.
"Why me? You and Sheppard are his commanding officers…"
"And he might think that we're suggesting it because he was injured. If you suggest it, however-"
"He won't think it's a sympathy ploy."
"Exactly. This guy has a lot of brains and initiative, Jack. Not to mention he's gutsy as hell. He'd make a good team leader."
O'Neill smiled, holding his hands up in surrender.
"You don't have to convince me, Melony. I've read his file. Send him over as soon as it's safe to move him, and I'll get the ball rolling on this end."
"Thanks, Jack."
"You're welcome. Anything else?"
She shook her head.
"I don't think so. How's Sam?"
His expression turned guarded and she grinned, knowing full well he knew it wasn't an idle question.
"She's fine."
You're so mean to him…He teased me a lot when I was a kid, she told Talon. I'm just getting my shots in where I can.
"Tell her I said hi."
He nodded.
"I will."
The monitor went blank and the gate disengaged.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
It was much later in the same day that Carson Beckett came looking for her. She was standing on one of the observation decks looking out over the ocean that surrounded the city, just enjoying the nice weather – even though she couldn't see much of anything now that the sun had gone down – and the sound of the water below her.
You should be sleeping
I know. I will, soon.
She wasn't completely healed from the gunshot wound she'd taken – although it only ached, now, and probably wouldn't even do that the next day – and Talon was more than willing to nag her to take care of herself so he didn't have to do it later.
Behind her, she heard a door whoosh open, so she wasn't startled when Carson joined her at the railing a moment later, and smiled when he leaned slightly against her, glad that there wasn't anything pressing she needed to do for a change.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her, well aware that she hadn't yet had a final check of the gunshot wound – since he'd be the one that officially did it.
"I'm fine. You?"
He shrugged.
"A little tired."
"You should be in bed."
He nodded.
"I thought I'd wait for you."
She turned and he put his arms around her, holding her loosely in case she wasn't in the mood to be held, but Melony went willingly, and rested her cheek against his chest. Talon could do a lot of things, but he couldn't hold her like this, and sometimes it was what she needed most.
"Colonel Sheppard wants to see you before you go to bed…" Carson told her, almost reluctantly.
"Is he okay?"
"Aye, just restless."
She could understand that. He was taking just enough pain medication to keep the pain dulled to tolerable levels, and that gave him the feeling that he wasn't as injured as badly as he really was. Which meant he'd be wanting to get out of bed and doing something instead of playing patient to a small group of overworked medical staff.
"I'll go see him later…"
He smiled, and bent to kiss her neck, causing her to shiver lightly. Which he couldn't miss as close to her as he was. He pulled back.
"Are you cold?"
She shook her head, and stepped back into his arms.
"I'm fine."